REBEL OF THE BALL
CHAPTER SEVEN
Although she couldn't forget what happened last night, Nia was surprised to see that she slept well (despite the noises next door).
And she didn't even wonder why'd she'd fallen asleep on the carpet, but it was a terrible idea though. Her bones felt like lead.
Nia squinted when the light suddenly flickered on. At first, she thought it was Tony but then remembering he had done some…business last night, she casted that idea aside. It was Jarvis after all, knowing that her room is quite dark. At least, Tony's personal computer is far more concerned for her than he is.
She got up, hating the fact that she fell asleep fully-clothed. Even though a mirror was available at a bathroom here in her room, Nia didn't bother to check her face. She was certain she looked like hell.
"Jarvis," Nia started, surprised that her voice sounded like she had swallowed a fuzz ball. "What time is it?"
"About 6 o'clock in the morning, Ms. Stark."
She blinked. Nia had just set herself her personal record! Usually, she wakes up at least 10 AM, sometimes even 12 that was why she'd always get the nuns a little flustered back at the orphanage. But now…she's not at the orphanage anymore — she's home.
Home.
The words made her stomach churn but Nia figured it was because of hunger. She didn't even bother to eat dinner last night.
She walked across her room and flung the heavy curtains apart, letting the California sunshine stream in. Her room had a great view actually — Nia could spot cliffs and covers overlooking the ocean. And the crisp, salty air helps too.
Nia gingerly stretched and headed to the bathroom to fix herself.
It's going to be a great day.
But probably, because of what her father did last night, could spoil it all.
Nia was starting to get the hang of things.
For just at least 20 minutes, she managed to take a shower, get dressed and brushed her teeth. Before heading downstairs, she had spotted her hair tie sitting by her bed. She picked it up, debating whether she should tie her black strands or not. After a few moments, she wore it on her wrist instead. Maybe she could use it later.
Urania was actually dreading to go out of her room. Who knows, Tony would be there or even that woman. And worse, maybe the two of them doing it in the hall…
Nia cringed, wanting to slap herself. She's still fifteen for goodness' sake! She couldn't think of things rated M! Well, there might be a few exceptions since she's an adolescent but still…
She shook her head firmly, vowing to never think of that again. Come what may — if that woman and Tony shows up, she'd just act as if she had already fell asleep and didn't know what they did last. Nia could tell she was pretty good at acting.
Nia walked towards the kitchen, bare feet — wearing leggings and a chunky oversized sweater. If she wanted her mind blank, she'd have to keep herself busy. And that only means one thing — breakfast.
Minutes later, Nia crinkled her nose as she stirred the pot.
"Jarvis, am I doing this right?"
"If you followed the instructions Ms. Stark, then I assume everything's going well."
"But —" She started to say but then sighed. There was no point. Nia shut her mouth and kept stirring.
The strange smell was alarming her. Panicked, Nia picked up a few pasta strands with her fork and pinched it between her fingers. It said that if it was under cooked, it'll be hard. If it's well done, it's going to be medium hard or something.
But when she did the test, the pasta literally smashed. And it slithered down her fingers in slippery slime - ew. Pasta weren't supposed to have slime.
"Shit." She cursed, turning the stove off.
The pasta was over cooked! Well done. Out of all a million starving children in the world, Nia just wasted a pack of noodles.
She threw the spoon unto the counter with a clatter. It took her almost an hour to do this! From afar, she could spot the bag of flour, bottles of this and that, spilling unto the table. She'd put so much effort and she failed.
If Nia hated to lose, she hated failing much, much more.
She sat on the cold, tiled floor, leaning against the cupboard from the bottom. "This just proves I really, really suck at cooking. Conclusion: never even think about being a chef."
Nia stood up. This just calls for take-outs.
She strode into the living room, unsure of what she's going to do. Although she could easily ask Jarvis for orders, Nia somehow wanted to find a phone around the house.
But she was surprised to see —
"Pepper!"
Tony's secretary turned around, a little surprised but smiled.
Nia beamed. "What brings you here?"
"Good morning Nia." Pepper greeted, putting an arm around her in a gentle hug. "I have business to do with your Dad. And I also wanted to check on you. Are you doing okay?"
"I'm good. Thanks for asking."
Suddenly, Pepper smiled knowingly.
"How about breakfast? Did you already eat?"
Nia's pale cheeks flamed. "Uh…no. I tried to cook but — anyway, I was on my way to order something from outside so —"
"Don't bother." Pepper said quickly, heading off into the kitchen. "I'd cook for you then. Good thing the pantry's stocked. What do you want?"
"Bacon. And eggs. And cereals. I mean — I can have one, right?"
"Of course. Just stay put and —" She stopped at the sight of the mess around the area. "What on earth happened?"
"It was me. I told you, I tried to cook." Nia muttered, abashed.
The strawberry-blonde put her hands on her hips. "Well, it's better if you clean up while I cook. That works with you?"
"Yeah — it sounds good."
"Okay then, let's get started."
"Mm. These are really good." Urania said heartily, grinning as she ate. "You're really a good cook Pep."
Pepper laughed as she set the apron aside. "You're just saying that because no one here could cook."
"Not really. It's true! I'm wondering why you're still single though — after all of this. I mean, you are, right?"
She rolled her eyes and mussed her hair. "Quit saying such things. You're still a kid, Urania."
"Hmph."
Pepper sat on the counter stool, smiling at the thought of how she easily could get along with her boss' daughter. For a girl of fifteen, Pepper really couldn't deny that she's far smarter and wiser than most kids her age. Maybe because she's been through so much. But whatever the reason is, Tony's daughter is a great girl. She'd grow up and be a great woman someday.
Although highly intelligent, there were times she finds Urania a bit too naïve — sometimes childish. Pepper had noticed that most teenagers girls dresses up as if they're twenty already — with their minds revolving around things like their appearances, boys and popularity. But Nia was sure different. And she had to admit, she was unlike her father.
"And Pepper, do you usually go to work this early?" Nia asked, swallowing her food. "It's nearly seven AM."
"I go to work at eight actually but this…is uh, a different case. Your Dad has sent me here to do something about last night."
"Last night? For what? Something work-related?"
Pepper was so surprised at her question that she looked up. But Nia's eyes remained perfectly innocent. It was difficult to see her motive. Does she know something?
That what? Tony has yet brought another woman at home?
Although the idea horrified her, Pepper assumed Nia has no clue over what happened.
"Er…yes. Something like that." Pepper felt uncomfortable with the lie. She pretended to have gained interest on her fingers.
"Good morning." Jarvis' usual morning alarm surprised both of them. "It's 7:00 AM. The weather in Malibu is 72 degrees with scattered clouds. The surf conditions are fair with waist-to-shoulder high lines. High tide will be at 10:52 AM."
The woman smiled. "You know that this house is just by the beach, right?"
"Right on top of a cliff. Yeah, I got that. And with a pool too."
"You could go swimming if you want."
"Or cliff-diving." Nia suggested as she slurped her milk.
Footsteps were suddenly heard and both girls looked up to the ceiling. For sure, it was coming from the upper floor. Pepper gritted her teeth. She couldn't help but feel irritated.
So the queen is now awake, Pepper thought irritably, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Urania asked as she eyed her walking out of the room.
"I'm going to fix things. I'll be right back, okay? Just continue eating."
"Tony?"
Pepper stayed silent as she walked through the Stark mansions' grand halls. She could hear Ms. Everhart's voice, calling out the name of her boss. Pepper knew who she is — a Vanity Fair reporter who she met couple of times while she assisted Tony's interviews. She never liked the woman in the first place.
But still…Tony found her interesting — interesting enough for her to get invited on his room for a grand one-night stand with the famous Tony Stark. And here Pepper was, cleaning up the mess he's making. Yep, just an ordinary day.
"Hey, Tony?" Everhart called again.
Pepper tried to stifle a snort. Doesn't she knew Tony never shows up after everything that happened last night? Calling his name is plain useless.
As she neared the place where Everhart was lazily walking around, inspecting every single detail in the house like she owned it. Pepper could spot her shining blonde head in front of Jarvis' remote system. She cocked and eyebrow. What is that woman trying to do?
Christine raised a finger and tried touching the button. Instantly, the screen glowed red with an alarmed beep.
"You are not authorized to access this area."
"Jesus." Everhart cussed, totally surprised as she took a few steps back.
"That's Jarvis. He runs the house." Pepper found herself saying loudly as she finally reached her.
Everhart turned around, trying to recover from both shock and embarrassment.
She gestured to the pack on her hands. "I've got your clothes here. They've been dry-cleaned and pressed and there's a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you'd like to go."
Pepper said it all in a very professional way. This is how she manages all of Tony's girls. But still, it makes her quite irritated that her boss makes her handle all of this women. As if she was the one toying them all up.
As usual, Everhart gave her a mocking smile that resembled most of the smiles each women the secretary met during the morning. Pepper knew it was their way of saying how they slept with the one and only Tony Stark and how she could not.
If Pepper's opinion was asked, she never really cared. There was no point trying to argue with these girls. After all, she isn't after Tony at all — all she wanted was her pay check and Stark definitely knew that.
Everhart raised a finger. "You must be the famous Pepper Potts."
Pepper smiled politely, fighting the urge to be sarcastic. "Indeed, I am."
"After all these years, Tony still has you picked up the dry-cleaning."
Well, what did Pepper expect? That Everhart will be as nice as Mother Teresa? Never. She knew she would be like this — a bitch. Just another woman in Tony's life that came and went.
Christine took the clothes out of Pepper hands. The strawberry-blonde just looked at her, the smile still imminent on her face.
But deep inside, Pepper was pissed as hell.
"I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires," Pepper shot back. "Including, occasionally, taking out the trash." She flashed her another smile, satisfied at Everhart's angry reaction. "Will that be all?"
Urania was still eating the moment she saw the woman arrive by the kitchen.
Her face instantly contorted into a scowl. "What are you doing here?"
The blonde woman raised an eyebrow at her. Well, for one thing, she was pretty. Shining blonde hair cut into the latest hairstyle, tanned skin and elegant silhouette. She looked a little cool too — dressed in her fancy suit. But whatever, she slept with her father — the only reason needed for Nia to despise her.
After all, she doesn't look friendly.
"Who are you? And I should be the one to ask — what are you doing here?" The woman demanded, looking annoyed.
For a moment, Nia was taken aback by the sudden question. She opened her mouth and was about to spill the secret that she was Tony's daughter but then stopped herself. While Pepper was out, she asked Jarvis a few stuff about the woman. Christine Everhart, journalist and apparently, a bitch. Although unsure of the last part at first (because deep in her heart Urania believed in kind women who might've accidentally just fell in love with her Dad at first sight that's why they'd ended up in his bed), it was now proven true. This woman is surrounded by nothing but plain bitchiness. It made Nia's skin crawl.
Thankfully, she had spotted her father's secretary right behind her.
"I'm Pepper's niece." Urania said finally, smiling at Everhart smugly. "And I have special permission to be here."
"Oh, so Ms. Perfect Secretary's bringing kids to Tony's home now huh?" Christine jeered, glancing at Pepper. "Didn't know you'd be such a gold digger Ms. Potts."
Nia's mouth fell open. "How dare you!"
Pepper just fell silent, though her eyes were snapping with anger. Everhart just shrugged, opened the fridge like she owned it and grabbed a bottle of iced coffee. Just like that, she marched away from the scene and probably out — where she could too, be out of Tony and Urania's life forever.
"Thank God she's gone." Urania muttered.
Pepper sighed. "I'm sorry about that. They really are a handful. I didn't know she'd be going here."
"How could you stand her Pepper? I mean, last night, when I saw both of them, she and Tony were definitely —" Her words were cut short when she realized what she had just said.
Nia quickly looked at Pepper. The woman's eyes were looking surprised and angry at the same time. She stood there, absorbing everything she had just heard.
"Oh shit." Nia said out loud, wanting to slap herself for her stupidity. "I didn't mean that. It was just a jo—"
"You knew?" Pepper asked suddenly, looking straight at Urania with her blue eyes.
She bit her lip. She got two choices. One: she could lie. What good will it do? Two: she could tell the truth. Which is probably the best thing to do. Honesty is the best policy after all.
Urania sighed and picked up her plate. "I couldn't lie to you Pepper but yeah, I knew. I…was about to go to bed and uh…I accidentally saw both of them doing their thing 'ya know — I mean not the explicit stuff! But yeah — I saw them together last night, heading to Tony's room, but I…okay, I saw them. And I knew. That's the point."
Everything fell silent. Nia bowed her head as she hopped off the counter stool and brought her plate to the sink. She didn't dare meet Pepper eyes though she wondered what she'd look like when she's mad.
"This is unbelievable." Pepper finally said, her voice sounding cold.
Nia looked up. "But everything's fine now! I perfectly understand everything! I mean, Tony sure is a playboy so —"
"But what matters is that he shouldn't be bringing girls at home knowing you might know! You're still a kid Urania, and what Tony did is practically unforgivable! Sure, he might be my boss but damn it, he should at least have some decent sense in him not to do that!" Pepper was practically shaking, her hands clenched into fists. "I'll talk to him."
"What?" Nia said, eyes widening. "What are you gonna sa—?"
But she never got to finish her question because Pepper had already walked out of the kitchen.
Nia stood there, dumbstruck. She really, really liked Pepper — she was as motherly to her as she could be. Although she was just Tony's secretary, sometimes, Nia could even imagine Pepper bossing her father around when she has to. She couldn't imagine what Tony's life would be without her.
Grinning as she was struck with another bright idea, Urania walked out of the kitchen and followed Pepper's lead. She couldn't help but go along with the urge of eavesdropping. She wanted to know what's going to happen — and if Pepper could really knock some sense into her father's stubborn head, in which, Nia admitted she had inherited.